Cigarette package holder



May 6, 1947. E@ coHN CIGARETTE PACKAGE HOLDER Fild sept. 4, 1944 i z I NVENTOR. BY JLA;

Patented May 6, 1 947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CIGARETTE PACKAGE HOLDER Irwin E. Cohn, Leominster, Mass.

Application September 4, 1944, Serial No. 552,635

` (o1. 22o-s) 3 Claims. 1

This invention relates to a plastic cigarette package container which is adapted to hold a commercial or regular size cigarette package. One object of the invention is to provide a cigarette package holder which will upon closing make an airtight seal and thus better preserve the tobacco. Allied with this object, a further object is to provide a two-part cigarette package holder into which the cigarette package is readily inserted and which is readily closed to form a seal which will not only be airtight, but which will be sufficient to maintain the two parts or halves of the holder in closed or sealed relationship despite shifting about of the container while in the pocket or purse of the user.

A further object of the invention is to provide a cigarette package holder of the character described which may be cheaply fabricatedof fabric material. An allied object is to provide a twopart cigarette package holder, each of the two container parts being fabricated of two portions, namely, a body portion which is formed directly from plastic sheet by bending the sheet into prismatic shape, and an end portion also formed from plastic sheet, but by a stamping or cupping operation. The folded-plastic sheet body portion of each half of the holder is secured to its respective stamped-plastic end portion.

For the attainment of the foregoing and such other objects of invention as may appear or be pointed out herein, I have shown two embodiments of my invention by the accompanying drawing, wherein- Figure 1 is a front (or rear) view of the improved holder in closed condition;

Figure 2 is a front (or rear) View of the top half thereof;

Figure 3 is a front (or rear) View of the bottom half thereof;

Figure 4 is a cross-section through the top half on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Figure 5 is a cross-section through the bottom half on the line 5 5 of Fig. 3;

Figure 6 is a front (or rear) View of the top y half of a modified form of holder; and

Figure 7 is a front (or rear) View of the bottom half of the modified form of holder, the top half of which is shown in Figure 6.

Referring rst to the embodiment of the invention shown in Figures 1-5, the improved cigarette package holder comprises a bottom half shown in Figure 3 and designated generally I0 and a top half shown in Figure 2 and designated generally 20. The bottom half I0 has a body portion II which is formed from plastic sheet bent in prismatic shape, best seen in Figure 5, and an end portion I2 which is stamped from plastic sheet. The top half 20 likewise has a body portion 2l which is likewise formed from plastic sheet bent in prisniatic shape, best seen in Figure 3, and an end portion 22 stamped from plastic sheet. The dimensions of the prismatic body portion 2I of the top half 20 is somewhat larger than the oorresponding dimensions of the prismatic body portion II of the bottom half I0, compare Figure 4 showing the top half 20 with Figure 5 showing the bottom half I0. Hence the prismatic body portions II and 2I may be brought into telescopic relation in closing the holder, with body portion 2| of the top half 20 disposed on the outside of the smaller-dimensioned body portion II of the bottom half Iii, as shown in Figure 1.

The plastic sheets from which the prismatic body portions I I and 2I of the top and bottom halves Il! and 20 are formed (by a folding or bending operation, as described above) and from which the end portions I2 and 22 of the two halves I0 and 20 are formed (by a stamping operation, as described above) are preferably transparent plastic material, preferably slightly tinted, although the improved holder may, where desired, be fabricated from opaque, clear transparent, or colored plastic. are made by a molding operation (as will be described in connection with the modified form shown in Figures 6 and '7), the holder is preferably made of transparent and tinted plastic.

The end portion 22 of top half 20 is stamped from sheet plastic to form an annular shoulder 24, Figure 2, extending around all four sides and resulting in the formation of an inwardly receded floor 23 and an outwardly extending lip 25. The prismatic body portion 2| of top half 20 is bent as best shown in Figure 4 with a short overlap 26 along one corner, and a suitable adhesive applied to the overlap joint. One end of the prismatic body portion 2l is received in the said outwardly extended annular lip 25 of end portion 22 and seated on the annular shoulder 24 thereof, and suitable adhesive applied to secure the body portion 2| and the end portion 22 together.

The end portion I2 of bottom half I0 is likewise stamped from sheet plastic to form an annular shoulder I4, Figure 3, extending around all four sides. Annular shoulder I4 of bottom half I0, like annular shoulder 24 of top half 20, results in the formation of an inwardly receded floor I3, similar to 23 of the top half 20, and an annular lip I5 on al1 four sides. Annular lip I5 of the bottom half I0 differs from the annular,

Likewise, where the two halvesV 3 outwardly extending lip 25 of the top half '20 in that lip I5 is extended outwardly a greater extent, or ared, than lip 25 of the top member 20. The prismatlc body portion II of the bottom member I is formed from sheet plastic with an adhered overlap joint I5, in a manner similar to prismatic body portion 2I of the top member. However, one end of prismatic portion II is received in the end portionv I2 so as to seat in the inwardly receded floor I3, in this respect dilering from the prismatic portion 2I and end portion I22 of top member 20, in which 2| is seated on the annular shoulder 24 and is adhered to the annular lip 25. As a result'of the seating of II in the inwardly receded oor I3 of the bottom half, to the walls of which securement is made by a suitable adhesive, an annular clearance Il is provided between flared lip I5 of the end portion and prismatic portion I I, see Figures 3 and 5.

End portions I2 and 22 are substantially the same size with respect to their inwardly receded floors, respectively, I3 and 23', and their annular shoulders, respectively I 4 and v2li. Hence, the smaller dimensioned body portion II of bottom member I0 is seated in the recededfloor I-3 which is disposed inwardly of the annular shoulder I4', and hence inwardly positioned relative to the annular shoulder 24 of thev top member 20. On the` other hand, the larger dimensioned body portion 2| of top member- 20 is seated in the annular shoulder 24 which is disposed outwardly of the inwardly receded floor 23, and hence outwardly positioned relative to the inwardly receded floor I3 of the bottom member IU, and also outwardly positioned relatively tothe prismatic body portion I'I of the bottom half.

It is understoodl that a cigarette package is placed within the prismatic wall tI of bottom member Ill, and the holder closed byl inserting prismatic wall I1I and the cigarette package within the prismatic wall 2| of top member 2B, asin Figure 1 and an airtight seal made by pressing the distal edges of prismatic wall 2 I within the annular space I'I of the bottom. member.

The two halves I0 and `2II of the improved holder shown in Figures 15 are made by a folding operation (prismatic walls II' and 2I.)` and a stamping operation (end portions I2` and' 22)'. The halves, may be made each in a single piece by a molding operation, as shown in Figures 6-7 where Figure 6 shows a one-piece molded top member 40' havingV a prismatic wall' portion. 4I` and a plain floor`42. Figure 7 shows a one-piece molded bottom member 3 having a prismaticy wall portion 3I-, a, floor 3?, and an annular lip 35 spacedfrom" wall portion. 3l to provide an annular clearance 3l.

In both the forms shown in Figures 15 and inV Figures 6-7 theI outwardly extendingv annular li`p respectively, I5 andY 35, serves additionally as a reinforcement to better enable the holder, and more particularly, the bottom member, to hold'its' prismatic shape.

Icl'aim:

1. A holder for a cigarette package fabricated from transparent, tinted" plastic sheet, compris'- ing a bottom member and a top member, each having a prismatio wall portion and anendipor'- tion, both said end' portions being stamped from plastic. sheet to form an annular shoulder intermediate an inwardly receded' floor and an outwardly extending annular the said annular shoulder and the said inwardly reced'ed floor' of both members being equi-dim'ensi'bned, both said prismatic wall portions being folded from plastic sheet, with an adhered overlap joint, the prismatic wall portion of the bottom member being folded to the smaller dimensions corresponding to the peripheral outline of the said inwardly receded floor of the end portions and the prismatic wall portion of the top member being folded to the larger dimensions of the said annular shoulder of the end portions, one end of the said smaller-dimensioned prismatic walls being seated in the said inwardly recded floor of one of the end portions and adhered to the walls thereof, and one end of the said larger-dimensioned prismatic wall being seated in the said annular shoulder of the other of the end portions and adhered tothe said outwardly extending annular lip thereof, the smaller-dimensioned prlsmatic wall of the bottom member being adapted to receive a cigarette package, and the larger-dimensfoned prismatic wall of the top member being adapted to receive the prismatic wall of the bottom member and the said cigarette package held therein, the annular lip of the endv portion of the' bottom member being flared outwardly to provide an annular clearance between the ilared lip andv thel prismatic wall portion of the bottom member adapted to receive and frictionally hold' the distal edge portion of the prismatic wall of the top member, to form an air-tight and secure closure between the two members.

2. A holder for a, cigarette package fabricated from plastic material, comprising a bottom member andl a top member, each having a prismatic wall portion and an end portion, both said end portions having an annular shoulder intermediate an inwardly receded floor and an outwardly extending -annular lip, the said annular shoulder and the said inwardly receded' floor of both members being equidimensioned, the pris-matic wall portion of the bottom memberl being formed to the smaller dimensions corresponding to the peripheral outline of the said inwardly rece'ded floor' of the end' portions and the prismatic wall` portion of the topmember'being formed to the larger dimensions of the said annular shoulder' of tle end porti-ons, one end of the said smaller-dimensioned -prismatic walls being seated' in the sai'd inwardly receded floor of one of the endl portionsand adhered to the walls thereof., andY one end' of the said largeiwdimension'ed prismatic wallbeing seatedv in .the said` annular shoulder ofi the other ofthe end portions and adhered to the sai'd outwardly extending annular lip thereof,- the smaller-dimensioned prismatic wall of the bottom member being adapted' to receive a. cigarette package, and the. larger-dlmensioned' prismatc' wall of the top member being adapted to receive the prismatic wall of the bottommember andthe said cigarette package held therein,- the annular lip of the end portion of ythe bottom member beingflared outwardlyto provide an annular clearance between the ilared' lip and the prismatic wall portionI ofthe bottom member adapted to. receive and frictionally'liol'd the distal. edge p0rtion of the prismatiewall' ofthe top member, to form an air-tightand secure closure between tl'ie two-members;

3. A- holder for a cigarette package fabricated' from plastic material, comprising a bottom' mem'- ber and a t'op member, each having a prismatic. waH portion and an' end portion, both said' end' portions having' an' inwardly receded oor andi an outwardlyextending annular liptheprismaticy wall' portion. of the. bottom' memberV having, the smaller peripheral dimension corresponding to the said inwardly receded oor and the pris- 5 matic wall portion of the top member having the larger peripheral dimension corresponding to .the said outwardly extending annular lip, the smaller-dimensioned prismatic wall of the bottom member being adapted to receive -a cigarette 5 two members.

IRWIN E. COHN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the 111e of this patent: t

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,685,765l Mangan Sept. 25, 1928 1,053,758 Turnbull Feb. 18, 1913 2,081,930 Hoffman June 1, 1937 2,248,274 Kusterer July 8, 1941 2,129,447 Schuler Sept. 6, 1938 2,335,202 Wilcox Nov. 23, 1943 2,329,375 Houlihan Sept. 14, 1943 2,113,683 De Witt Apr. 12, 1938 

